Discussion

Is Taylor brand pork roll smoked?

I am a hound from San Diego writing an article on pork roll. I have found out that some, but not all are smoked. Can anyone tell me if the Taylor brand pork roll (called Taylor ham in North Jersy) is smoked?

Jfood is surprised you were not taught a lesson on the playground eating raisin bread at all. :-)) But to place Taylor ham on it makes jfood want to get back on the 49 bus and go back to Elizabeth. The Weequahic Diner would never do that.

While Taylor brand pork roll IS available in other areas of the east coast these days, calling it "taylor ham" is most definitely a Jersey thing. I never called it "pork roll" until I moved to the Philly area. I learned my lesson quick, when the egg sandwich I ordered one morning with "taylor ham" came with HAM, not pork roll.

Taylor ham is also great on a hard roll with peppers, onions, and cheese.

I don't think it's smoked...or if it is, it's only very lighty smoked. By the way...it's a South Jersey product (from Trenton), not North Jersey. .Taylor's is certainly the benchmark for this regional gem, although many people do prefer a competetive brand, CASE'S (also from Trenton).Either way...this is one great, classic product.

Well, to a Rahway-ite, who lived in Trenton and now currently lives about 5 minutes from Trenton, I can assure you that Trentonites are NOT South Jerseyans! In Trenton, it's acceptable to root for the Jets, Giants or Devils, but in South Jersey it's the Eagles and Flyers all the way!

I have actually argued with folks from NORTH Jersey (Bergen County) that insist that Rahway is not North Jersey (but rather Central Jersey). Personally, I consider Jersey to be broken down into 4 distinct cultural regions: North Jersey (self-explanatory), West Jersey (Warren & Sussex counties), Central Jersey (New Brunswick, Princeton, Trenton), and South Jersey (anything south of I-195).

And jfood, my mouth is watering for that luscious sloppy joe! Whenever I have a party, my parents may not come unless they bring a tray from Mr. J's in Cranford.

This is so funny....us jersey folks are so sensitive! (and I put myself squarely in that category).

I grew up in Monmouth County, (Asbury Park/Wall/Manasquan, etc.), and we are uber-sensitive to being called "South Jersey". In our book, South Jersey starts south of Ocean County (Toms River-ish). South Jersey = Pine Barrens. Central Jersey = farmland/jersey shore.

I always considered Trenton to be Western Jersey (because clearly Jersey is wide enough to have both western & eastern territories ;-)

Anyway you slice it, though, I don't think you can find better pork roll, hardrolls, or pizza than anywhere in the Garden State.

A couple of years ago at work, after much debate, a bunch of us drew on a map of Jersey attempting to clearly define the "regions." For the most part, we worked it out.

Dagwood, I agree -- Monmouth County isn't south Jersey. Plus, South Jersey people, when the go to the beach, they go to what I call the AC beaches -- Ocean City, Brigantine, etc. I had never heard of those places till I started working with SJ people! When we went down the shore, it was always to Point Pleasant or Lavalette!

Not to go off on another tangent here...but I'd love to know where you're finding good hardrolls anymore in central NJ. They seem to have disappeared along with the Hungarian & Polish bakeries that were once common. Parnes' bakery in Woodbridge seemed to be the last place to get a great hard roll. In-store supermarket bakeries have really taken a toll on availability quality baked goods.

Not to worry. In jfood naroow-minded brain North Jersey is Essex, Bergen and Union counties, He can buy an argument for Morris and Bergen but it is a tough putt. Sussex, not a chance, not really jersey, more like Easton PA, same for Mom's-mouth county.

Once you cross over to the Brunswicks, well, it just ain' t the same. What can jfood say. He sucked the air out of the refineries for years and if you can;t see the air it ain't north jersey.